Follow Pres. Sirleaf’s legacy

Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador and head of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace Julie Endee has urged Liberian women to follow the footsteps of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, if they want to become successful in their endeavors.

“Follow our President Madam Sirleaf legacy if we women must be successful in the society, because when we look back in past years, it was Madam Sirleaf, who paved the ways for many of us who are in leadership position today, if not for her able leadership, and excellence leadership, many of us wouldn’t have be in our various positions”, she said.

Ambassador Endee gave the urge on Tuesday, July 19, 2016 in a women forum held in honor of the upcoming Golden Image Award at the headquarters of the Crusaders for Peace on Capitol by-pass in Monrovia.
Held under the auspices of the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, the forum brought together women groups, including women from the National Traditional Council, Muslims Women, and the Female Legislative Caucus, among others.

Addressing the audience under the theme, “Strengthening the Health Sector through Communities”, she stressed a need for Liberians to respect the democracy Madam Sirleaf has put in place, because it takes a person of such character to provide the opportunity where many women in the society today have a voice to speak, saying “In the past, we were not given this opportunity, but now we share the same platform with the men, our voices are being heard everywhere, even at the highest decision making body we have women that can speak on behalf of every women in this country.”

Amb. Endee said against this backdrop, the upcoming Golden Image Award is in honor of President Sirleaf, who according to her, has and continue to a leading role in women’s lives, and giving voices to women across Africa and the world at large.

She said President Sirleaf is the first democratically elected female President in Africa, who has demonstrated commitment to humanity and women, so she deserves to be honored. However, the Liberian Cultural Ambassador is not the only person to be honored, adding, “We will also honor important people, who play a significant role in the country, people who commit themselves to humanity – these are people that are going to receive this award.”

According to her, the award is purposely for deserving people who are noted for doing positive things in the society. Serving as guest speaker for the forum, former women leader Madam Mary Brownell urged Liberian women to stand firm in their decisions and initiatives. “You need to focus on [your] journey; it is not too late, you can be like whosoever you want to be in this country, it just requires sacrifice, time, and patience in order to have your goals achieved.”

She said a woman should educate her girl child, especially when that child reaches adolescent age, “where she starts to know herself, you doing this to avoid any form of depression, because any attempt to abandon that child, her dream will be thrown away.” Madam Brownell is ex-president of the Liberian Women Initiative, and mother of President Sirleaf’s Security Advisor, Dr. H. Bioma Fahnbulleh, Jr.

By Lewis S. Teh-Editing by Jonathan Browne